Drying apparatus for vehicles

Abstract

A forced-air drying apparatus (20, 120) for an automated car wash includes at least four stages of nozzles (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d) and blowers (68a, 68b, 68c, 68d) spaced apart along the direction of vehicle travel through the apparatus, each stage having its nozzles oriented to direct air at high velocity generally downward and toward the vehicle (50). The vehicle is supported on a foraminous floor or grate (52) which is vertically spaced above a sloping foundation surface (34) such that a space (92) exists below the floor. Water which is stripped from the vehicle surfaces (75, 80) is carried downward by the downwardly moving air streams through the openings in the floor into the space below, where it is drained away by the sloping foundation surface. The apparatus further includes an insulated drying tunnel (38) which contains the nozzles and surrounds the vehicle, and at least one furnace (86) which is connected to receive air from the space below the floor, heat the air, and deliver the heated air to the blowers, thus continuously recirculating the air in a closed loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A forced-air drying apparatus for motor vehicles, comprising: a floor adapted to support a vehicle, the floor being vertically spaced above a foundation surface supporting the drying apparatus, at least a portion of the floor underneath the vehicle being foraminous; and   at least one air nozzle arranged generally above the vehicle and at least one air nozzle arranged generally on each side of the vehicle, the nozzles being connected to a source of pressurized air and directed generally toward the vehicle and downward toward the foraminous portion of the floor, whereby air is directed by the nozzles to impinge on outer surfaces of the vehicle and strip water therefrom and carry the water downward through the foraminous portion of the floor to the foundation surface such that the water cannot splash back up onto the vehicle.   
     
     
       2. The drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a conveyor providing relative motion between the vehicle and the nozzle stages in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.   
     
     
       3. The drying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the nozzles are stationary and the conveyor transports the vehicle along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       4. The drying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle remains stationary and the conveyor transports the nozzles along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       5. The drying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the nozzles comprise a plurality of nozzle stages spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, the nozzle stages including: a first nozzle stage adjacent an upstream end of the conveyor, the first nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located generally above the top of the vehicle and oriented to direct air downward onto the top of the vehicle;   a second nozzle stage located downstream of the first stage, the second nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located generally above each juncture of the top and the sides of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on said junctures and push water downward along the sides toward the floor; and   a third nozzle stage located downstream of the second stage, the third nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located to each side of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on the vehicle sides and push water further downward along the sides toward the floor.   
     
     
       6. The drying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the nozzles of the third nozzle stage are located and oriented so as to direct air to impinge on upper portions of the vehicle sides, and further comprising: a fourth nozzle stage located downstream from the third stage, the fourth nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located to each side of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on lower portions of the vehicle sides and push water further downward along the sides toward the floor.   
     
     
       7. The drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a drying tunnel adapted to contain a vehicle, the floor forming a bottom wall of the drying tunnel;   a pit disposed beneath the drying tunnel, the floor covering the pit, whereby fluid communication exists between the drying tunnel and the pit via the foraminous portion;   a forced-air heating system having an inlet adapted to receive relatively low temperature air, a heater to add heat to the air, and an output for relatively high temperature air; and   an air blower system adapted to receive relatively high temperature air from the heating system output and deliver the air under pressure to the nozzles, whereby the nozzles direct heated air to impinge on outer surfaces of the vehicle and strip water therefrom and carry the water downward through the openings in the floor into the pit.   
     
     
       8. The drying apparatus of claim 7 wherein the forced-air heating system inlet communicates with the pit to recirculate air exiting the heating system output after it passes over a vehicle in the tunnel and through the foraminous portion of the floor into the pit. 
     
     
       9. The drying apparatus of claim 8 wherein the floor comprises a grate. 
     
     
       10. The drying apparatus of claim 5, wherein all of the nozzles are oriented to impart a rearward component of velocity to the air exiting the nozzles. 
     
     
       11. A forced-air drying apparatus for motor vehicles, comprising: a drying tunnel adapted to contain a vehicle, the drying tunnel having an open bottom;   a floor adapted to support a vehicle within the drying tunnel, the floor located at the bottom to form a bottom wall of the drying tunnel and including openings therein located beneath a vehicle positioned in the tunnel for the passage of air and water therethrough;   a pit disposed beneath the drying tunnel, the floor covering the pit, whereby fluid communication exists between the drying tunnel and the pit via the openings in the floor;   a forced-air heating system adapted to receive relatively low temperature air from the interior of the pit, add heat to the air, and output relatively high temperature air;   a plurality of air nozzles disposed within the drying tunnel and directed generally toward the vehicle and downward toward the openings in the floor; and   an air blower system adapted to receive relatively high temperature air from the heating system and deliver the air under pressure to the nozzles, whereby the nozzles direct heated air to impinge on outer surfaces of the vehicle and strip water therefrom and carry the water downward through the openings in the floor into the pit, and whereby air passing through the openings into the pit is recirculated through the heating system and blower system back through the nozzles.   
     
     
       12. The drying apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heating system includes at least one forced-air furnace. 
     
     
       13. The drying apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heating system includes at least two forced-air furnaces connected in parallel between the pit and the air blower system. 
     
     
       14. The drying apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a heating control system including a thermostat located within the drying tunnel and a controller connected to the thermostat and the furnaces, the controller being adapted to operate the furnaces so as to maintain the temperature within the drying tunnel within a predetermined range. 
     
     
       15. The drying apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heating system includes at least two forced-air furnaces connected in series between the pit and the air blower system. 
     
     
       16. The drying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tunnel has an upstream end and a downstream end, and the nozzles comprise a plurality of nozzle stages spaced apart along a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal centerline of a vehicle positioned within the tunnel, and further comprising: a conveyor which provides relative motion between the vehicle and the nozzle stages in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
       17. The drying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the nozzle stages comprise: a first nozzle stage adjacent the upstream end of the tunnel, the first nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located generally above the top of the vehicle and oriented to direct air downward onto the top of the vehicle;   a second nozzle stage located downstream of the first stage, the second nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located generally above each juncture of the top and the sides of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on said junctures and push water downward along the sides toward the floor; and   a third nozzle stage located downstream of the second stage, the third nozzle stage including at least one nozzle located to each side of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on the vehicle sides and push water further downward along the sides toward the floor.   
     
     
       18. The drying apparatus of claim 17, wherein the nozzles of the third nozzle stage are located and oriented so as to direct air to impinge on upper portions of the vehicle sides, and further comprising: a fourth nozzle stage located downstream of the third stage and including at least one nozzle located to each side of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward and inward so as to impinge on lower portions of the vehicle sides and push water further downward along the sides toward the floor.   
     
     
       19. The drying apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a fifth nozzle stage located downstream of the fourth stage and including at least one nozzle located above the top of the vehicle and oriented to direct air generally downward to impinge on the top of the vehicle.   
     
     
       20. The drying apparatus of claim 19, wherein the floor is a grate. 
     
     
       21. The drying apparatus of claim 20, wherein all of the nozzles are oriented to impart a rearward component of velocity to the air exiting the nozzles. 
     
     
       22. The drying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the nozzles are stationary and the conveyor transports the vehicle along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       23. The drying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vehicle remains stationary and the conveyor transports the nozzles along the longitudinal direction.